Hokkaido winter: Sapporo Snow Festival, Otaru Snow Light Path and clothing

Plan around the announced 2027 dates for the Sapporo Snow Festival and Otaru Snow Light Path, their separate venues and official recommendations for clothing and snowy paths.

Last checked:

  • Hokkaido
  • Sapporo
  • Otaru
  • Festivals
  • Independent travel

This page is updated every year at the same address. Please note the last checked date.

For a winter trip to Hokkaido, it helps to consider festival dates and preparation for walking in snow separately. The dates for the 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival () and Otaru Snow Light Path () have been announced, but their venues and the amount of event detail published differ. This article summarises confirmed arrangements from official information checked on 2026-10-28. Start with the Hokkaido travel overview or see Hokkaido transport basics for transport.

Key points

  • Dates announced for the 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival: 4 to 11 February, at three venues: Odori, Susukino and Tsudome.
  • Dates announced for the 2027 Otaru Snow Light Path: 6 to 13 February. Further event details were still awaiting official announcement.
  • The events overlap on 6 to 11 February 2027. This is the overlap between announced dates, not an official combined ticket or shuttle arrangement.
  • Sapporo’s tourism association recommends layers of warm clothing that can be adjusted and footwear with slip-resistant soles.

Information for the year (2026)

The table below contains official notices verified by 2026-10-28. Both festivals were announced in 2026, but their event dates are in 2027; they must not be confused with dates for 2026.

Item Information announced when checked in 2026 Source
Next Sapporo Snow Festival 4 to 11 February 2027 Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
Sapporo Snow Festival venues Odori, Susukino and Tsudome Sapporo Snow Festival Executive Committee
Next Otaru Snow Light Path 6 to 13 February 2027; more detailed arrangements to be announced Otaru Tourism Association
Equipment for walking in winter Slip-resistant soles and warm clothing that can be worn in layers Sapporo Tourism Association

Locations and events: Distinguish the venues

Event Officially confirmed locations or scope What to plan first
Sapporo Snow Festival Odori (), Susukino () and Tsudome () List the venues separately rather than treating them as one entrance
Otaru Snow Light Path Winter festival in Otaru; detailed arrangements for 2027 yet to be announced Confirm dates first, then check officially published locations

If the Sapporo Snow Festival is your main purpose, identify the venues you want to visit before planning travel around that day’s operations. If Otaru is part of the same trip, the overlapping festival dates can help select a travel period. This is only a date-based arrangement, not an officially provided intercity route or journey time.

Winter clothing and walking arrangements

Possible situation Official equipment advice Use when planning
Cold outdoors and temperature differences indoors Warm clothes that can be put on and taken off in layers Choose clothing that can be adjusted to different environments
Snow, ice or slippery surfaces Shoes with slip-resistant soles Do not estimate winter walking times from dry-road walking speeds
Several event venues in one day Confirm event dates and venues first Consider travel between areas and time at each venue separately

The tourism association gives general advice about layering and shoe soles. It does not guarantee that any footwear is safe on every icy surface. Allow flexibility in both clothing and timing when moving between indoors and outdoors during winter.

What to check before departure

Item Order of checks Why
Sapporo Snow Festival Confirm the year’s dates, then details for each venue Venues are separate and may have different operating arrangements
Otaru Snow Light Path Confirm dates, then later detailed announcements Dates had been announced, but details were still pending
Intercity transport Check actual services and the day’s conditions Announced festival dates are not transport timetables
Clothes and walking Check slip-resistant soles and layered clothing Official advice specifically addresses winter surfaces and temperature differences

Event times, transport and weather conditions may change. Recheck the latest announcements from organisers and transport operators before departure.

Further reading

Sources